Signal recorder



June 24, 1930.

H. SAMPSON S IGNAL RECORDER Filed Jan. 50, 1928 2 SheetsSheer l INVENTOR H. 0. lampaozv BY ATTORNEY June 24, 1930.

H. o. SAMPSON 1,768,154

S IGNAL RECORDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 30, 1928 ,ml 1%.; Fa

' ATTORNEY Patented June 24, 1930 HARRY O. SAMPSON, F BEAUMONT, TEXAS SIGNAL RECORDER Application filed January so, 1928. Serial No. 250,600.

My invention is a signal recorder.

Railway companies are annually confronted with numerous law suits arising out of accidents at grade vcrossings. The question as to Whether or not the engineer sounded his whistle is often the deciding factor in these legal controversies. Then again it is important with railway companies to have a graphic record of the time of day an engineer sounds his whistle during the course.

of the run.

It is thereforethe principal object of the present invention to provide a recording mechanism whereby each actuation of a signal will be recorded.

Further the invention provides an audible signal recorder which will record the time of day each signal is given.

. The invention also contemplates a recorder for recording audible pressure actuated signals, which embodies a horological instrument and a pressure actuated time stamping or printing mechanism that is operable incident to the actuation of the signal.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a signal recording mechanism for use on railway locomotives to record each actuation ofits whistle by the engineer.

With the preceding and other objects and advantages in mind, the invention consists in the novel combination of elements, constructions and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter specifically referred to, claimed 35 and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a locomotive equipped with the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the invention associated with the steam actuated whistle of a locomotive, parts of the whistle being shown in vertical section;

Figure 3. is a vertical sectional view taken at right angles to Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the device in open position;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a perspective of the latch 91g.

' ment embodied in the invention;

Figure 7 is a perspective of one of the elements embodied in the invention;

Figure 8 is a perspective of the steam pressure responsive element embodied in the invention and Figure 9 is a perspective of the mounting for the pressure responsive element.

Referring to the invention in detail a cylindrical casing 5, embodying complementary sections 6 hingedly connected together by a hinge 7 which is secured to the casing by rivets 8, is provided. A T-shaped bracket 9, extending verticallyof one side of the casing, with its horizontal leg 10 projecting above the same, is attached to the latter by rivets 11.

As illustrated particularly in Figures 2 and 5, the casing is disposed to one side of a locomotive whistle 12 and is attached to the steam pipe 13 thereof by means of a U-shaped yoke 14 which embraces this pipe and passes through the ends of the horizontal leg 10 to receive nuts 15.

16 is arranged A horological instrument horizontally within the lower section 6 of i the casing and carries a hinge element 17 at one side which is hingedly connected with a second hinge element 18 riveted or otherwise secured, as at 19, to the inner face of one of the side walls of the lower section. The hands 20 of the horological instrument are formed of resilient metal and terminate in down turned barbs 21 which are movable around a removable, circular, graduated cardboard dial 22. The dial is removably held to the face of the horological instru- -ment by set screws 22, or other devices, so

that a new dial may be arranged in place for each run of a locomotive. Normally the hands 20 are disposed above the upper casing section.

An expansible coil spring 28 encircling the stem has one end positioned against the upper casing section and its opposite end engaged with a stop pin 29, carried by the stem, to normally return the latter with the annulus 23 to an elevated position.

For the purpose of depressing the annulus against the hands 20 by the exhausting locomotive steam, incident to the sounding of its whistle, a bell crank lever 30 is arranged to one side of the stem with its long leg disposed vertically and its short leg resting upon the upper end of the stem. The bell crank lever is pivotally supported to swing about a horizontal axis in a U-shaped mounting 31 having a depending threaded stud which is engaged with the casin At its upper end the vertical leg of the bell crank lever is provided with a laterally extending substantially rectangular vane or swinging piston 83, the latter projecting into the whistle 12. The vane or swinging piston is disposed at an oblique angle with respect to the horizontal so that steam passing through the wh'stle will swing it forwardly to rock the bell crank lever and depress the stem To limit the movement of the bell crank lever, the short leg of the latter passes hrough a longitudinal vertically extending slot 34: in an L-shaped bracket attached to the casing by a removable fastening 36. As the bell crank lever is rocked, the short leg thereof will contact with either the upper or lower end walls of the slot, according to the direction of movement of the lever.

To protect the parts of the mechanism exterior-1y of the casing 5,, a substantially Z-shaped casing 37 is attached to the upper ace of the casing 5 to house these parts. The upper horizontal leg of the casing 37 projects laterally into the whistle 12.

The horologieal instrument is capable of being swung to a position exteriorly of the casing section in which it is mounted for the purpose of winding, etc., and in order to normally hold it against swinging movement, a spring pressed plunger 38, engageable with the horologieal instrument, is provided. The plunger passes transversely through the lower section of the casing and has a tapered inner end 39, to be received in an opening etO, provided in the casing of the horologieal instrument, at a point diametrically opposite its hin e connection with the casing 5. A knog i1 is formed on the outer end of the plunger whereby it may be retracted from the opening i0.

A hinged hasp 42 is secured to the lower casing section at a point diametrically opposite the hinge 7 by means of rivets 43. A U-shaped keeper 44 is carried b the upper section of the easin and receives a conventional lock 45, after t 1e hasp has been n a d w h the eep to pr en thorized persons from gaining access into the interior mechanism.

In the operation of the invention each time the whistle 12 is sounded steam passing therethrough to the atmosphere strikes the swinging piston or vane, rocking it forwardly to depress the short leg of the bell crank lever against the plunger 25. The depression of the plunger depresses the annulus or stamping element 23 against the hands of the horologieal instrument to engage the barbs with the dial 2? and cause impressions in the chart according to the position of the hands. It will be observed that the dial is removably attached to the face of the horologieal instrument so that a new one may be arranged in operative position each time the recorder is used. Vhen the engineer has fin shed his run an oflicial will open the casing 5, remove the dial for filing in the companys records, and a new dial will be arranged in position for use.

Vhat is claimed is In combination, a pressure operated audible signal, a casing supported adjacent the signal, a recording mechanism arran 'ed therein including a longitudinally shift-a ble spring urged member, a stamp carried thereby, a bell crank lever pivoted in the casing with one leg bearing against the sprin urged member, a slotted member arran e to one side of the stem and throu h which said leg passes and operable to limit the pivotal movement of the bell crank lever, and a vane projecting laterally from the other leg of the bell crank lever and extending into the signal whereby actuatin pressure flowing through the signal wild move the vane to rock the bell crank lever in a direction to depress the spring urged member.

Signed at Beaumont in the county of Jefferson and State of Texas this 27th day of January, A. D. 1928.

HARRY O. SAMPSON. 

